Professional Development through Evidence-based Public Engagement

​Engaging with the public about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is a professional responsibility, a civic duty, and expected by funding agencies. Engagement involves interactions between STEM professionals and the non-STEM public about STEM topics, often at the intersection of science and society. With funding from the BEACON Center I collaborated with colleagues at UT Austin to organize a series of training workshops for scientists (in-person and virtual). As part of these workshops we collected a wide range of resources that have recently been posted to the 500 Women Scientists website across three pages: Science Communication, Outreach, and Policy.

Engaging the Public about Amphibians

My love of amphibians led me to organize a variety of events throughout undergraduate and graduate school. In Florida, I was involved with the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center. This amazing environmental education engages 4th and 7th students as part of a curriculum aligned with the New Florida State Standards. In addition to engaging with the students on these classroom visits, I led special events like 'Frog Friday' with a variety of stations for families to visit and learn about frogs in Florida.

In Michigan, I am working with local high schools and plan to engage nature centers in citizen science projects in salamander research through SPARCnet.